Pathways Middle School Breaks Ground on Their First Permanent Facilities

November 15, 2016
– Ground was broken for a new Pathways Middle School campus by West Ada School
District, City of Meridian and Pathways’ Builders Club leadership earlier today
in a special gold shovel ceremony. This new campus is the first permanent
structure for the school in its nearly 10-year history.

“When you are in a school made up of portables, you are
forced to use other peoples’ facilities to eat, hold assemblies, or have a
student versus staff basketball game. It’s kind of like having family dinners
at someone else’s house,” Principal Eric Eschen explained of their current
campus. “We are an intervention
program, but not a forced placement program, so our students interview
and choose to come here. Which means they have to leave an
environment they know for someplace they do not know. Coming to a
site which is temporary in nature adds an extra level of uncertainty. This
new building is foundational for our program's permanency.”

Pathways
serves 7th and 8th-grade students who need a different
learning environment than the traditional middle school. The unique school structure
gives students more personalized attention, helping them become more organized
and supporting them through academic struggles. The layout of the new campus
offers a more flexible learning environment as well.

“The
school has a large central area which avoids tight hallways leading to
classrooms – many students do not like feeling cramped while moving to classes.
Each of the classrooms has an exterior door so students can take a break from
class and step outside for a quick porch break to pull themselves together and
get back to learning,” Eschen shared.

Pathways
students prefer alternative seating arrangements, so the school went away from
the traditional student desk in every classroom and have studied unconventional
seating or standing desks in order to keep students focused on their work.

A unique
common area in the school will serve many purposes throughout the school day:
student hang out, dining area, science lab space, Maker Space lab, and more.
Larger art and consumer science rooms enable more engaged learning, since every
student participating will have the space to take part in projects. Small
spaces are also important on campus, as they give students a quiet place to
study or work on group projects.

“Student murals are
everywhere and we will continue the tradition. Our outdoor stage, built by one
of our Eagle Scouts, will be moved over. Our skateboard rack will come
over that our Skateboard Club purchased,” Eschen explained. “Most importantly,
our mission to connect and build on success will be there too. This is the
heart of our school and what we do. Connect with the kids and build on their
hard work and effort.”

Design
West Architects and Kreizenbeck Constructors are scheduled to finish
construction of the new Pathways campus in fall of 2017. The Plant
Facilities Budget will pay for this $6.3 million project. The new campus will
be located on land just across the parking lot from the current Pathways
facilities.